8 Diet Pitfalls — Conquered

Never count on just your willpower to stick to a nutritious meal plan. Rather than beat yourself up for occasional slip-ups (or abandon the diet all together) use these clever ideas to set yourself up for diet success.

Diet pitfall: You order takeout so often, the delivery guy knows you by name

Diet pitfall: You order takeout so often, the delivery guy knows you by name

Solution: Failing to plan can easily lead to diet downfalls: unhealthy menu selections or the lack of nutritious options. Prioritize your diet and make meal-planning part of your routine, not a chore, says Manuel Villacorta, RD, and author of Eating Free. “Schedule a date with your supermarket once a week, followed by a date with your kitchen, where you can pre-make a lot of healthy foods,” he says. Boil rice and quinoa, cook beans, whip up a soup or stew, grill chicken, and roast veggies, so you will have basics ready to pack for lunch or warm up for dinner.

If you know you’re going to dine out, read the menu and pick a diet-friendly option before you go. Watch out for terms like “braised” or “pan-fried,” ask for sauces on the side, and beware of salads loaded with high-caloric extras, says Bethany Thayer, RD, director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

Diet pitfall: You always skip breakfast (or grab a donut to go)

Diet pitfall: You always skip breakfast (or grab a donut to go)

Solution: “Breakfast is one of those meals that can determine how crazy you’re going to eat at 4 pm,” says Villacorta. Start your day with a 300- to 400- calorie meal packed with protein and carbohydrates to help you feel full longer. Try oatmeal with a hard-boiled egg on the side, serve up an omelet with fruit, or blend Greek yogurt with berries for a satisfying shake.